England have bolstered their limited-overs squads for the forthcoming T20 and One-Day International (ODI) clashes with Sri Lanka by adding two uncapped players who have excelled in domestic competitions. Derbyshire’s explosive top‑order batsman Aneurin Donald and Sussex’s promising seam bowler Henry Crocombe have both earned call‑ups for the month‑long series that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Donald’s credentials are rooted in a standout season in the Vitality Blast, where he amassed 489 runs in 12 matches, notching four half‑centuries and leading the tournament with 37 sixes. His power hitting was further showcased in The Hundred, where he represented the Trent Rockets and continued to display the aggressive stroke play that has made him a fan favourite.
The Wales‑born cricketer also holds the joint record for the fastest fifty in the Blast, reaching the milestone off just 13 balls for Derbyshire against Yorkshire in 2025. His inclusion comes as England finalize a 16‑man T20 squad that will be without opening batsman Phil Salt, who is sidelined with a quadriceps injury. On the bowling side, Crocombe has been a revelation in the County Championship, having taken back‑to‑back hat‑tricks in his last two matches.
His form earned him a place in the 16‑man ODI group, where England will look to blend youthful vigor with experienced campaigners. The 24‑year‑old, who is set to join Surrey from 2027, has already claimed 49 wickets in 36 domestic 50‑over games and added another 34 scalps in 35 T20 fixtures, bringing his overall tally to well over 100 wickets across all formats. His recent first‑class hat‑tricks came against Somerset and Essex, with one of the dismissals being Craig Overton, the brother of England all‑rounder Jamie Overton.
England men’s national selector Marcus North praised both newcomers, saying, "Aneurin Donald and Henry Crocombe are two promising players who have earned their places on the back of impressive performances in domestic cricket. Aneurin has had an exceptional season for Derbyshire in the Vitality Blast and also with Trent Rockets in The Hundred while Henry is a player we have had an eye on all summer." The endorsement underscores the England management’s commitment to rewarding form and potential at the domestic level. The squads also reflect a number of injury‑related changes. Fast bowler Brydon Carse, who is currently under investigation by the Cricket Regulator following an incident outside a Derby nightclub in August, has been omitted from both the T20 and ODI lists after being withdrawn from recent Test selections against Pakistan.
All‑rounders Sam Curran and Jacob Bethell are also unavailable; Curran is nursing a groin problem while Bethell is recovering from knee surgery. The ECB confirmed that Bethell’s operation was successful and that he is targeting the white‑ball tour of Australia in November for his return to international cricket. Conversely, Jamie Overton, another all‑rounder, makes a comeback after missing the July home series against India due to a quadriceps injury sustained in the IPL.
Openers Jordan Cox and Ben Duckett have secured places in both the T20 and ODI squads, providing stability at the top of the order. The T20 leg of the series kicks off in Southampton on 15 September, two days after the final Test against Pakistan concludes at Edgbaston. England will then play in Cardiff on 17 September and at Emirates Old Trafford on 19 September. The ODI component, which marks the close of England’s home summer, will follow with fixtures at Durham (22 September), Headingley (24 September) and The Kia Oval (27 September).
Crocombe’s journey with England began earlier this year when he was added to the Test squad for the New Zealand series in June after Sussex teammate Ollie Robinson suffered a knee niggle, although Crocombe did not feature in the matches. His continued development has now earned him a full‑time role in the white‑ball set‑up. Another uncapped Sussex player, spin‑bowling all‑rounder James Coles, retains his spot in both squads after making his debut during the India series a few months ago.
Donald, meanwhile, has recorded 18 fifties in domestic T20 cricket across 106 innings, with a personal best score of 91. Head coach Brendon McCullum, who now focuses exclusively on white‑ball cricket after being relieved of Test duties following the 2‑1 series loss to New Zealand, will have the option of selecting Test captain Joe Root for the ODIs, as England have chosen not to rest him. England will aim to finish a 3‑0 Test sweep of Pakistan in Birmingham from 9 September before turning their attention to the white‑ball series against Sri Lanka.
After the home season, the English side heads to Pakistan in October for an ODI tri‑series that also includes Sri Lanka, and then travels to Australia in November for a three‑match ODI series and a five‑match T20 series. Looking further ahead, England’s schedule includes a three‑Test tour of South Africa over the Christmas period, which will be Stephen Fleming’s debut as England’s red‑ball coach after succeeding McCullum. That tour will be followed by three ODIs against the Proteas in January. The next ICC 50‑over World Cup is slated for 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, while the subsequent T20 World Cup will be staged in Australia and New Zealand in 2028.
The announced England T20 squad comprises: Harry Brook (Yorkshire – captain), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), James Coles (Sussex), Jordan Cox (Essex), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Aneurin Donald (Derbyshire), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire) and Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire). The ODI lineup features the same core, with the addition of Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Henry Crocombe (Sussex) and Joe Root (Yorkshire). Sri Lanka’s white‑ball captain Kusal Mendis (hamstring) and left‑arm pacer Binura Fernando (back) have been ruled out of the T20 series due to injuries sustained in the Lanka Premier League. They are being replaced by Pavan Rathnayake and Dilshan Madushanka.
In Mendis’s absence, Charith Asalanka will lead Sri Lanka in the T20 matches, while Mendis remains listed in the ODI squad. The Sri Lankan T20 roster includes Charith Asalanka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Tharindu Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara and Dilshan Madushanka.
Their ODI squad mirrors this selection with the addition of Sachindu Colombage and Asitha Fernando. All matches will be televised live on Sky Sports, with times listed in UK and Ireland. Fans without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports packages or stream the games contract‑free via NOW.